Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-02-25


The bill to prohibit the sale of intoxicat.
ing liquors within one mile OF the soldiers
home, which was introduced by Mr.. H.
Watson and has been especially champ
oned by him, passed the house by good
discussion, and numerous amendments
were offered.
Col a. II. Heath, for eight years post
master at lonia, and man whose record
Is untarnished is announced as the next
commits sioner OF labor.
In the senate two more constitutional
amendments have been started on their
way 10 the popular vote. The first amends
section q OF article u OF the constitution
so as TO give the legislature power TO pro-
vide for more than one circuit Judge in
the circuit in which the county Of Sagi.
nav is situated. The amendment will he
submitted TO the people at the election in
April next. Tho second proposes to amend
section 2, article 4, so as TO provide for a
senatorial term Of four years instead Of
two. This also is TO be submitted at the
April election.
IL is proposed 10 remedy defect in the
present criminal laws by which many of
tenders escape with light sentences In
many cases OF serious assault the accused
Il tried on an information for murder An
acquittal on this charge frequently results
but the jury convicts Of the lesser crime Of
simple assault The punishment for this
is but short period in jail. and is quite
inadequate in cases OF grevous personal
assault A bill Introduced few DAYS ago
proposes severe punishment on convicts
for assault, when the offender has been
originally charged with murder
Representative McNabb from the pine
clad hills OF Newaygo, - who is regarded as
an orator OF wit. closed very humorous
speech the other dav with the following
original poem. 10 which all loyal citizens
will respond with hearty amen:
They tell us OF lands where the or ange tree
grows.
The land of palmettoes. the land Of the
rose
But the land that is dearer and sweeter to
Than the lands that are washed bv the
calm, summer sea,
Is the land where the skies in beauty do
span.
Peninsula alma, our own Michigan.
Up to date the senate bills introduced
number 209, and the house bills number
440.
The Joint select committee on the Lyons
that on their visit TO Lyons they found
twenty four families. containing eighty
nine persons. who were pennies. and
whom they think the state should aid.
This does not include business men or 9th
ers who can repair their losses Tho COM
mittee introduced n joint resolution APP
propriating 81. 900 OF which $1,000 l. TO be
used in breaking up the ice gorge by the
use Of dynamite, and 5000 for the tempo
rary relief of those in distress The reso.
In nassaH the hOnSe nv "A vote OF 81 to
/. In the senate the matter was referred
to the committee on appropriations and
finance, and at the evening session was
again called up and passed by more than
the necessary two-thlrds.
Gov. Luce has signed the bills incorpor-
ating Romeo and abolishing the superior
court of Detroit.
The rush OF bills since the legislature
reconvened on the 18th, has been beyond
the capacity Of the clerks 20 index them.
In both houses the committee clerks have
been pressed into service and still the
work is far behind.
A bill has been introduced in the house
appropriating go, 900 for the erection Of a
hospital and barn at and the purchase ola
carriage for the Soldiers Home at Grand
Rapids bill for the general support OF
the institution was also introduced at the
same time. L ne amount WAS itlt DlhHh
Representative Dixon says the managers
OF the Soldiers Home ask for 500, 900.
Speaker Marley is Of an economical term
OF mind. He called the attention OF mem
bers a few daysago TO eItravagance mani
tested by the house in printing duplica
tions OF petitions, specifying instances
where such Implications filed pages of the
journal Nothing contained in these print
ed petitions gave members any additional
insight into the wishes OF the people over
the ordinary petitions, which were al ways
referred TO committees aud received due
care and attention.
In response TO n resolution OF inquiry
the Adiutant- General sent to the house a
communication the other day. saying that
a careful examination Of the books in his
Office and the acts of the legislature has
failed to show that any promises OF
bounty were made to soldiers enlsting
in 1861 and 1862 that has not been kept.
He then gave in detail the legislation re-
lating to bounties and the amounts paid at
different periods. The report has "A bear
ing on the bill for the equalization OF
bounties.
A slender figure, dressed in the quiet
garb of the Quakers, with gray hair ana
face whose brightness Father Time can
never dim, was seen in the legislative
halls the other day. IL was Aunt
Laura Hariland. who for many years
has been present at some portion OF
every session. usually in the advo-
cacy OF some legislation looking to-
ward the care and education of the de-
pendent or the reformation OF the fallen.
but this time she says she has nc particu-
lar mission. II just came said she, Ito
shake the hands OF the republican mem
bers OF the legislature for passing the pro-
hibition amendment, and | do wish we
women were people. l always tell them
when go to pay my taxes that there are
the taxes but they've no right to them.
have been widow for fortytwo years
and have paid a good many hundred dol
lars in taxes, but never could vote"
The committee on the soldiers home at
Grand Rapids have not yet completed the
report OF their investigation but hope to
nave il ready in few days.
Gov Luce has transmitted TO the legisla.
ture a memorial from the Ohio general
assembly in relation to celebrating the
centennial anniversary OF the northwest
territory under the ordinance of 1884, the
first settlement of the territory after the
passage of the ordinance was made at
Marietta, o., in April, l1oS. Ii is proposed
TO celebrate this event in April or next
year, and also 10 have a memorial exposi-
ton in Columbus in the fall OF 1883. The
states OF Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and